Caladium plant named ‘Red Glamour’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Red Glamour’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; glossy lance-type leaves that are rose red in color with rose red-colored venation and dark green-colored margins; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RED GLAMOUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a lance (strap) leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Red Glamour’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wonder’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,044, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. on Sep. 15, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Red Glamour’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Red Glamour’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Glossy lance-type leaves that are rose red in color with rose         red-colored venation and dark green-colored margins.     -   4. Good landscape performance.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘John Peed’, in leaf shape and color as plants of ‘John Peed’ have fancy-type leaves that are dark green in color with red-colored venation. In addition, plants of the new Caladium are more compact than plants of ‘John Peed’.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘White Wonder’, in leaf color as plants of ‘White Wonder’ have leaves with white-colored background blushed with pink and distinct dark green-colored margins. In addition, plants of the new Caladium grow slower and produce finished plants one to two weeks later than plants of ‘White Wonder’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Florida Sweetheart’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,526. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished         plants about one week earlier than plants of ‘Florida         Sweetheart’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Florida Sweetheart’ differed         in leaf luster and coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Florida         Sweetheart’ were dull and had lighter rose red-colored centers         and dark green-colored margins.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium had flatter leaves than plants of         ‘Florida Sweetheart’.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Pink Symphony’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Pink Symphony’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were more compact than plants of         ‘Pink Symphony’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster and produced finished         plants about one to two weeks earlier than plants of ‘Pink         Symphony’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Pink Symphony’ differed in         leaf luster and coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Pink         Symphony’ were dull with mostly pink or pale pink-colored         centers surrounded by a green-colored border with white to         greenish white-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Red Glamour’ in a 15-cm container and grown in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a view of typical plants of ‘Red Glamour’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Red Glamour’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Red Glamour’ grown in 15-cm containers; the plant on the left has had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has not had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Red Glamour’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Florida Sweetheart’ (left), ‘Red Glamour’ (center) and ‘Pink Symphony’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘John Peed’ (left), ‘Red Glamour’ (center) and the male parent, ‘White Wonder’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C. to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were nine weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were seven months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Red Glamour’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘White Wonder’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,004. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;             individual segments ovate to rounded in shape. Height: About             3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3.7 cm. Segment height: About             1.2 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Thick,             starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis,             freshly-harvested: Close to N199C and 200C. Epidermis,             dried: Close to 200A to 200B. Cortical tissue: Close to 2C             to 2D. Axillary buds: Close to 37B to 37C. Root description:             Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close to 155D.             Rooting habit: Few lateral branches; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounding plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit;             potted plants in finished or saleable form in about seven to             eight weeks after planting tubers; leaf petioles and leaves             arise from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles             mostly upright and arching outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 21 cm to 24.5 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 23 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 33 cm to 40 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About four to five from de-eyed tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             2.8 cm to 4 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to             wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color,             outer surface: Close to N170D and 49C stippled, streaked and             tessellated with close to 177B; with development, color             becoming closer to 199C to 199D tinged with close to 187A to             187B. Color, inner surface: Close to N155C; outer surface             colors and patterns visible. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; lance-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 12.5 cm to 15             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants, flattened.—About 10             cm to 14 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate, peltate; cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; wavy with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; leathery; glossy             in luster.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Background color: Central             areas, close to 185B with overtones of close to 53B;             marginal areas, close to N186C tinged with close to 46A;             margin, close to N189A and 147A with flecks, close to 157A.             Basal notch: Close to 187A, 53A and 185A. Venation: Close to             53A and 185A with flecks and streaks, close to N189A and             147A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Background color: Central areas, close to 183C to 183D             tinged with close to 184B; transitional areas, close to 160D             tinged with close to 182D; marginal areas, close to 191A;             margin, close to N189A and 147A with flecks, close to 157A.             Basal notch: Close to 187A to 187B and 184A. Midvein: Close             to 195A tinged with close to 177C. Primary venation: Close             to 148A.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, leaning outwardly and curving; flexible.             Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 16.5 cm to             21 cm. Diameter, distal, shadehouse-grown potted plants:             About 3.2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown             potted plants: About 4.5 mm to 8 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown             potted plants: Close to 177D and N170D variably tinged with             close to 182D and stippled, streaked and striped with close             to 177A and 200B; distally, close to 177D and N170C to N170D             striped and streaked with close to 177A. Wing length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 3.6 cm to 4.9 cm. Wing             diameter, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4 mm to             7 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants, outer             surface: Close to 177D and N170D variably tinged with close             to 182D and stippled, streaked and striped with close to             177A and 200B. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             inner surface: Close to N155C; outer surface colors and             patterns visible. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on seven week-old     shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at             junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night fragrant; sweet jasmine-like fragrance with             camphor-like notes.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring or early             summer in central Florida; flowers develop about seven weeks             after growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 8.7 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 5.7 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 3 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.4 cm. Width,             at constriction: About 1.2 cm. Width, proximal closed             portion: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Tapering to the peduncle. Margin: Entire.             Texture, front and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             front surface: Distal open portion: Close to 155D; with             development, color becoming closer to 199C to 199D. Proximal             closed portion: Close to 147D; towards the base, mottled and             flushed with close to N186D; color does not change with             development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion: Close             to 155A tinged with close to 157A to 157B. Proximal closed             portion: Close to 147C and 146B.         -   Spadix.—Length: About 6 cm. Length, male flower zone: About             4.7 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 9 mm. Length, female             flower zone: About 1.3 cm. Diameter, male flower zone: About             9 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone: About 5 mm. Diameter,             female flower zone: About 7 mm. Shape: Columnar,             spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright.             Color, mature, male zone: Close to 158B. Color, mature,             sterile zone: Close to 158B. Color, mature, female zone:             Close to 18D. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 109.             Shape: Obovate. Height: About 2.8 mm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4C.             Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 90. Shape:             Obovate. Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma             color: Close to 158B. Ovary color: Close to 155A.         -   Scape.—Length: About 14.3 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; glaucous. Color: Close to 177D and N170C             to N170D variably tinged with close to 146D and stippled and             streaked with close to 177A; distally, close to 146D             streaked with close to 199A and N199B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot     and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Red Glamour’ as illustrated and described. 